KUMU

 
Kalama Pastor
 

Kalama Pastor serves as the kumu hula, director, and founder of Hālau Hula Nā Lama I Ka Uluwehi O Laka. He graduated through ʻūniki rites in 2006 under the guidance of Kumu Hula Rolanda Mohala Reese, later deepening his studies of oli and haku mele under Kumu Hula Dr. Kalani Akana and Kumu Oli Dr. Sam ʻOhu Gon. Anchored in the foundational teachings of Rolanda Mohala Reese, Mae Kamāmalu Klein, and Maiki Aiu Lake, he founded the hālau in 2020, establishing its permanent home at Waikalua Loko Iʻa in 2025 through a partnership with the Pacific American Foundation.

​

A dedicated educator and school administrator with over 25 years of experience across California, Japan, and Hawaiʻi, Kalama holds a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Master’s degrees in Counseling and Educational Administration. His decade of service within the Koʻolaupoko community includes leadership and counseling roles at James B. Castle High School, Kailua Intermediate, and Kapunahala Elementary. This deep commitment to regional well-being is further reflected in his active membership with the Rotary Club of Kāneʻohe.
​
Rooted in the Maiki Aiu Lake philosophy that “hula is life,” Kalama views hula not merely as performance, but as a transformative path for the whole person. By weaving his background in counseling and public education with traditional cultural lineage, he presents hula as a lived discipline that fosters focus and resilience. Integral to this pedagogy is aligning hula practices with the environmental restoration of Waikalua Loko Iʻa. Viewing the fishpond as a living classroom, he guides haumāna in the reciprocal stewardship of restoring ancient rock walls and monitoring the ecosystem—ensuring they flourish in balance with the ʻāina while carrying the torch of ancestral knowledge forward.